Narrative:

While at cruise in an small aircraft, I inadvertently flew into an imbedded thunderstorm at 13000 ft. I picked up moderate to severe icing and encountered moderate to severe turbulence. I reported this to the controller. By the time I came out of the severe turbulence I was at 12500. I was very shaken and the airplane had so much ice on it I could barely make it back to 13000. After making it back to 13000 the airplane was hanging on the propeller and performing very poorly. The MEA was 12000 on V-210. I was worried about picking up more ice and not being able to even hold 12000. I asked for and got 12000. The airplane seemed to fly very well at 12000. I encountered more turbulence and ended up at 12500. I let the airplane stay there for a little while because I wanted to see how it was performing at the higher altitude. The controller asked my altitude and I promptly descended back to 12000 with no further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS EMBEDDED TSTM WITH TURB AND ICING. ALTDEV.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE IN AN SMA, I INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO AN IMBEDDED TSTM AT 13000 FT. I PICKED UP MODERATE TO SEVERE ICING AND ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB. I RPTED THIS TO THE CTLR. BY THE TIME I CAME OUT OF THE SEVERE TURB I WAS AT 12500. I WAS VERY SHAKEN AND THE AIRPLANE HAD SO MUCH ICE ON IT I COULD BARELY MAKE IT BACK TO 13000. AFTER MAKING IT BACK TO 13000 THE AIRPLANE WAS HANGING ON THE PROP AND PERFORMING VERY POORLY. THE MEA WAS 12000 ON V-210. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT PICKING UP MORE ICE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO EVEN HOLD 12000. I ASKED FOR AND GOT 12000. THE AIRPLANE SEEMED TO FLY VERY WELL AT 12000. I ENCOUNTERED MORE TURB AND ENDED UP AT 12500. I LET THE AIRPLANE STAY THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE HOW IT WAS PERFORMING AT THE HIGHER ALT. THE CTLR ASKED MY ALT AND I PROMPTLY DSNDED BACK TO 12000 WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.